July 31, 2018 at
8:00 AM

Late Monday night, the Red Sox announced that they had acquired second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Ty Buttrey and left-hander Williams Jerez. I had the chance to see both earlier this year with Pawtucket and coincidentally wrote them up together. Here's another look at that piece from June 19th (with the stats updated and a note on Buttrey's injury status added).

Since he converted to pitching in 2014, left-hander Williams Jerez’s development has been slow, but after being added back onto the 40-man roster this past offseason, he looks to be on the brink of making his big league debut at some point in 2018. Jerez’s velocity is among the best in the Red Sox system and his secondary pitches continue to develop.

In a recent look, which was also Jerez’s best outing of the year, he struck out five of the seven batters he faced over 2 1/3 perfect innings. Jerez showed off his potential, flummoxing several ex-major league hitters with both his fastball and secondary pitches. His fastball sat 96-98 mph and topped out at 99 mph. The pitch was on the straight side, so if his command is off, the pitch gets hit, which has been the case in several outings this year. Even during this excellent outing, when he was controlling the pitch well, he struggled to command the pitch arm-side. For this reason, refining his fastball command will be key for him to reach his potential.

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7/31 Cup of Coffee: Just like the big-league club, both Pawtucket and Greenville went into extra's on Monday. Unfortunately for both teams, they didn't win like the Red Sox as Pawtucket fell in 13 innings while Greenville lost in 10. Rusney Castillo had a big night for Pawtucket, driving in an extra-inning run with an RBI single and also added a homer. Jordan Wren accumulated three hits in Greenville's defeat while Brandon Howlett had a 4-for-4 performance in GCL's victory.

Pawtucket led 7-0 after three innings but the Chiefs came back to tie it at seven apiece in the eighth and won it in the 13th. Rusney Castillo drove in Cole Sturgeon with an RBI single in the top of the 12th. Adam Lind lofted an RBI sacrifice fly a batter later for a little insurance but Syracuse crawled back to tie it, again, in the 12th before winning the game with a walk off an inning later.

Castillo alsohit his fifth home run of the year in the second inning, a two-run shot. Brandon Phillips and Sam Travis both tallied three hits in the extra-inning defeat. Justin Haley received a no-decision after allowing seven hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings.

July 30, 2018 at
2:00 PM

With the trade deadline approaching, the SoxProspects.com Podcast team went to work on the latest edition, looking at the recent trade of Jalen Beeks(pictured, right) and the potential for additional moves.

Durbin Feltman was drafted in the 3rd round by the Red Sox this year's draft. He was viewed by many as the top pure reliever in the draft class, and as a result, had the potential to move very quickly through the system. His first four innings for Lowell have been virtually perfect, with 7 strikeouts and no baserunners allowed. For Baseball America, Alex Speier writers that he has been as advertised and still poised to move quickly.

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The trade deadline is right around the corner. With one swap in the books, Chris and Ian bid farewell to Jalen Beeks. They look ahead to potential upgrades to the big-league club, whether in the bullpen or at the keystone. Ian has been to Lowell and updates us on the progress of several promising young players in short-season ball. Then Chris and Ian break down the mid-season re-rankings from Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, in particular why their top fives look a bit different than ours. Ian talks about why Jay Groome is his number two guy in the system. Chris explains the challenges hitters with a first base-only defensive profile face. And the guys debate whether a hitter can shove. Despite Ian's claim to the contrary, they can't. Pitchers shove. Hitters rake. (Chris's note: Thank you, Joe)

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7/30 Cup of Coffee: Greenville and Salem delivered the system's only wins on the final Sunday in July. Darwinzon Hernandez continues his recent surge, turning in another strong start supported by Brett Netzer and the Salem offense. Greenville completed its sweep of Charleston as it maintains its spot in first place in the second-half standings after a dreadful start to 2018. Despite Pawtucket losing in a rout, it featured perhaps the most notable happening of the day, as Jordan Weems (pictured) made his Triple-A debut seven years and two positions after the Red Sox made him their third-round pick in the ballyhooed 2011 draft.

The Knights plated runs in each of the first five innings on a tough afternoon for the PawSox. A string of five consecutive quality starts for William Cuevas came to a halt, as the Pawtucket starter allowed seven runs (five earned) in four innings. Jordan Weems, drafted back in 2011, made his long-awaited Pawtucket debut in relief. Weems surrendered one run on two hits in his three innings of work. After toiling for several years in the system as a catcher, Weems has impressed since converting to the mound in 2016. The 25-year-old righty has a 3.59 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning across three levels.

July 29, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/29 Cup of Coffee: A night after delivering a big hit and driving in two runs, Adam Lind doubled that total in just the first inning in a win over the Knights, while Chad De La Guerra also went deep for Portland and former first-rounder Tanner Houck picked up a victory for Salem.-----

Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Charlotte Knights (CWS) 5
A grand slam in the top of the first from Adam Lind provided the pop Pawtucket would need to hold on for a one-run win over the Knights at McCoy Stadium. Rusney Castillo added two hits and a run, while Mike Miller and Kyle Wren also had two hits apiece in a 10-hit performance from the PawSox. Wren also added a highlight-reel catch in left field when he jumped high over the bullpen fence to rob a potential game-tying home run in the top of the eighth inning.

July 28, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/28 Cup of Coffee: A record-breaking home run from Bobby Dalbec (pictured) was the highlight of the night, while Pawtucket got a pair of big hits from Rusney Castillo and Adam Lind.
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Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Charlotte Knights (CWS) 1Rusney Castillo drove in three runs and Adam Lind drove in two more to lead the PawSox. After going 2 for 5 in his first game back with the PawSox on Thursday, Tzu-Wei Lin followed it up with another two-hit outing. Mike Miller and Oscar Hernandez each went 2 for 3 at the bottom of the order and Castillo and Lind each had run scoring doubles. Chandler Shepherd pitched around four walks to keep the Knights to one run over five innings and Fernando Rodriguez Jr. got his second save with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

July 27, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/27 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night on the farm, as only the GCL Sox came away with a win, while the two DAL teams had the night off. The Jalen Beeks trade threw the starting pitching alignment out of whack, as Matt Kent moved up to Pawtucket and Daniel McGrath stepped in for Portland. In Salem, a short evening for Bryan Mata (pictured) led to speculation another deal was imminent, but it was a twinge rather than a trade that cut Mata's night short.

On what would have normally been the turn of Jalen Beeks in the PawSox rotation, Matt Kent was promoted from Portland to take the place of the recently-traded left-hander. Kent pitched admirably, allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He pounded the strike zone, striking out six against only one walk, and throwing 62 of his 93 pitches for strikes. Trevor Kelley and Bobby Poyner turned in 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before the Clippers reached Robby Scott for a pair of unearned runs in the 10th.

July 26, 2018 at
1:00 PM

The Red Sox made a trade on Wednesday to help stabilize their rotation, acquiring right-handed starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from Tampa Bay in exchange for Jalen Beeks (pictured). Beeks was ranked sixth in the SoxProspects.com rankings, rising from a ranking of 13th to begin the season. Beeks struck out 117 over 87 1/3 innings with the PawSox this year and had an ERA of 2.89, but he was also hit hard in both of his major league appearances. SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Ian Cundall wrote up a detailed scouting report in early-June on Beeks, and Cundall noted the great progress Beeks had made since being a 12th-round draft pick in 2014.

Kyle Martin, who has been in the system for six seasons, was released so he could pursue an opportunity to play in Japan. Martin made two appearances for Boston last season, but he was outrighted off the 40-man roster last September and had been pitching in Pawtucket all season.

After gong on the disabled list at the end of May with right forearm inflammation, Marcus Walden is now back with the PawSox. Walden was starting for the PawSox before getting hurt, and he will now pitch out of the bullpen for them. He is on the 40-man roster so he is likely to help Boston out of the bullpen when rosters expand in September.

To make room for Drew Pomeranz's start on Tuesday, the Red Sox optioned Tzu-Wei Lin to Pawtucket.

With Lin in Boston the PawSox have been short-handed in the infield as Brandon Phillips has not played since Saturday due to a chest injury.

Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald reported that former first-round pick Trey Ball began taking batting practice about a month ago. Ball was a two-way player in high school and was considered a first-round talent both as a pitcher and outfielder. He has not progressed on the mound, struggling to a 7.23 ERA in Portland this season, and it looks like the 24-year-old is eyeing a position change.

The Red Sox signed another international free agent on Monday, with Gregori Custodio coming in and joining the DSL Red Sox2. Custodio was given a $230,000 signing bonus last year from the Pirates, but the contract was voided in February. PiratesProspects.com reported that it was voided due to age/identification issues and problems with his paperwork.

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7/26 Cup of Coffee: It was a day of matinees, as Pawtucket and Lowell were the only affiliates to start play after 6 p.m. It was also a day of twin bills, with both DSL squads and Greenville playing two. Portland blew a three-run lead in the ninth, but Tyler Dearden(pictured, left) hit two home runs and Brett Netzer and Ceddeane Rafaela had four hits for Salem and the first DSL squad, respectively, while Denyi Reyes pitched a complete game in Greenville.

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Columbus Clippers 3 (CLE), Pawtucket Red Sox 1Josh A. Smith gave the PawSox five one-run innings, but the Clippers scored twice in the eighth to take the win. Sam Travis had the lone RBI and Mike Miller added two base knocks. It was Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. who allowed the game-winning runs on two hits across a pair of frames.

Teddy Stankiewicz rolled through seven innings, allowing only an unearned run on five hits to go along with four strikeouts to seemingly lead Portland to victory but Jordan Weems blew a three-run lead in the final inning. Harrisburg scored four in the 10th to seal the victory, despite three Portland runs in the bottom half. Michael Chavis led the way with the bats, going 1 for 3 with a two-run home run. He was one of three Sea Dogs with multiple hits, including Danny Mars, Jantzen Witte, Jordan Betts, Deiner Lopez, Nick Lovullo and Jhon Nunez.

July 25, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/25 Cup of Coffee: Boston's top prospect made his return to the Portland lineup as part of a big day on the farm. Michael Chavis (pictured, left) drove in what proved to be the winning run in support of an excellent Mike Shawaryn performance for the Sea Dogs. Pawtucket veterans Dan Butler and William Cuevas helped knock off an old friend at McCoy. Jerry Downs hit a pair of homers in Salem's loss, while Jarren Duran and Nicholas Northcut continue to rake for Lowell and the GCL Sox.

The PawSox got the best of a former Boston farmhand. Ten years after the Red Sox made Stephen Fife their third-round pick, he made his first appearance on McCoy Stadium's mound, four organizations and 18 major league appearances later. It was Fife's old battery mate Dan Butler who touched him for a solo home run in the fourth, one of five runs the PawSox reached him for. William Cuevas struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings, walking two and allowing two runs on five hits. Rusney Castillo doubled as part of a 2-for-3 evening, and a resurgent Sam Travis had two hits and an RBI to run his hitting streak to seven games.

July 24, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/24 Cup of Coffee: A trio of stellar pitching performances from Dedgar Jimenez (Portland), Tanner Houck (Salem, pictured) and Emerson Ortiz (DSL) headline a successful Monday on the farm while Garrett Benge continues to hit the cover off of the ball for Greenville.

Dedgar Jimenez didn't allow a run across 5 2/3 innings while Jantzen Witte collected four RBIs and a homer as the Sea Dogs shut out the Senators. Jimenez struck out seven and allowed five hits, and three walks, to pick up his sixth win of the season. It was the left-hander's second straight start without allowing a run.

Witte's two-run home run in the sixth inning marked his ninth round-tripper of the season with the Sea Dogs, as Jeremy Rivera and Austin Rei were the two other Portland batters to register multi-hit performances. Witte went 3 for 4 in the win.

July 23, 2018 at
12:30 PM

Lowell's 11-game winning streak was stalled on Sunday and James Dunne has the story in Monday's Cup of Coffee.

Rafael Devers returned from the disabled list on Saturday and Bobby Poyner was sent to Triple-A to make room for him.

Poyner was activated on Sunday and Trevor Kelley was demoted to Portland as the corresponding move. Josh D. Smith was also added to Pawtucket on a paper move as Mike Olt went to the disabled list with abdominal inflammation.

On Friday, the team signed Mark Montgomery to a minor-league deal. The 27-year-old right-hander had a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings for Triple-A Toldeo in the Detroit Tigers system. He was originally an 11th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2011.

Jon Heyman of Fancred reported on Sunday that, in non-trade deadline reinforcements, free agent outfielder Austin Jackson could become an option. Jackson was traded from San Francisco to Texas on July 8 and the Rangers released the 31-year-old six days later. He's slashed .242/.309/.295 in 149 at-bats this year.

The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley wrote a Friday column about how keeping Rafael Devers is the right move for the Red Sox. In order to acquire a front-line starter or a quality reliever, there have been reports that Devers may have to be involved.

Denyi Reyes(pictured, left) is pitching well in Greenville this year, with a tiny 0.88 WHIP. WEEI's Vincent Gallo profiled the 21-year-old on Friday.

His coworker, Ryan Hannable, discussed SoxProspects' No. 2 prospect Bryan Mata and his high walk numbers, saying that they are not as concerning as you think.

Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette wrote on Sunday that a draft lottery could aid in preventing tanking, as the Orioles and Royals push toward 100-loss seasons.

The SoxProspects.comdonations drive is still pressing onward, going through August 10. Please consider a donation if you can, so that we can keep the site free and give the same great content that we have been for the last 15 years.

Bobby Dalbec's two-week reign as player of the week is over as Juan Carlos Abreu had a torrid week. The 21-year-old is spending his third season in Fort Myers and has really improved, as he's slashing .329/.389/.476 in 2018. He's decreased his strikeout rate from 30.2 percent in 2017 to 20 percent this year.

He was drafted by the Red Sox in 2016 as their 23rd-round pick out of Winter Springs High School in Florida.

Enmanuel De Jesus (pictured, right) turned in the start of the season for Greenville on Thursday. He pitched 7 2/3 no-hit innings, retiring the first 22 batters he faced. After a strikeout to get the second out of the eighth, a pair of throwing errors allowed an Asheville runner, who was hit by a pitch, to score from second base and that would be the end of his outing, but the 21-year-old dominated.

Originally from Venezuela, De Jesus has spent much of the season in Greenville and after bouncing between the Drive and Lowell in 2016 and 2017, has spent some time up in Salem this year. He hasn't allowed solid contact, surrendering just 22 extra-base hits in 66 2/3 innings in Greenville in 2018.

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7/23 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough afternoon on the farm, as two affiliates were rained out, and the other three were rendered winless. A bright spot was Jarren Duran (pictured, right), who picked up five hits across two games in support of fellow 2018 draftees Thad Ward and Chris Machamer. Despite the efforts of the Class of '18, the Spinners saw their winning streak snapped at 11 games.

The PawSox drew a tough test on Sunday with 2015 first-round pick Kolby Allard on the bump for Gwinnett. Justin Haley held his own opposite the Braves' phenom, striking out four and allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Kyle Wren hit an eighth-inning solo homer that knotted the game at 3-3 before the Stripers came away with the win in extras. Rusney Castillo scored the PawSox other two runs, going 1 for 4 with a double and a walk.

July 22, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/22 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket, Portland and Salem all lost, Kutter Crawford (pictured, left) continued to pitch well in a win for Greenville, Chad Hardy had a big home run for GCL and 19-year-old Brayan Bello kept his impressive outings going for DSL.

A Kyle Wren sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning plated Sam Travis and tied the score at four apiece, but the Stripers struck for one run in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the win. Josh A. Smith allowed a walk, a double, and intentionally walked a batter to load the bases before giving up the game-winning RBI single. Overall, Smith pitched pretty well, allowing six hits and the one run in three innings of relief. Chandler Shepherd got the start, allowing four hits and four runs in five innings of work. The outing marked a vast improvement from his prior two starts, when Shepherd allowed nine hits in a no-decision against Charlotte last Monday and a loss to Rochester on July 3.

July 21, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/21 Cup of Coffee: The Lowell Spinners and the Portland pitching staff both remained on a roll on Friday. Matt Kent (pictured) and Josh Taylor combined on another shutout by the Sea Dogs, the fifth straight contest in which they've allowed one or fewer runs. Tyler Esplin and Yorvin Pantoja had big nights for the Spinners. Late rallies doomed Pawtucket, Greenville and the GCL squad, obscuring strong outings from Jalen Beeks and Jose Gonzalez.

The PawSox led all evening until a six-run outburst in the sixth tipped the scales to Gwinnett. Jalen Beeks got the start, firing 4 2/3 innings and striking out seven. After not having pitched in 10 days and started in 16, the left-hander was pulled after 63 pitches. Robby Scott was touched up for four runs in his 1/3 of an inning, nearly doubling his ERA from 1.08 to 2.14. Scott had not been scored upon in his previous 12 outings. The beneficiary of Gwinnett's big inning was old friend Miguel Socolovich. Kyle Wren broke an 0-for-12 skid, going 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI.

July 20, 2018 at
12:11 PM

The daily Cup of Coffee is always worth reading to catch up on all the previous days' games from the night before, and Friday morning's was especially worthwhile. Enmanuel De Jesus started for the Greenville Drive and combined with two other pitchers to no-hit the Asheville Tourists. Strangely, they were unable to shut them out, winning 5-1 after giving up a run on a hit batter who advanced and scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error by the catcher.

SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Ian Cundall was back at it this week, unveiling his latest edition of Scouting Scratch. This one covered two right-handed pitchers that joined the system last year: 2017 22nd-round pick Hunter Haworth and 2017-2018 international free-agent signing Alexander Montero (pictured).

Cundall's work was not over with the SoxProspects.compodcast team back at it for a new episode. Chris and Ian discussed the 2018-2019 international signings, final 2018 draft signings, the July rankings update, and scouting notes on both Salem and Lowell.

2080 Baseball released their 2018 mid-season rankings. If you are looking for Red Sox prospects, be prepared to scroll for a while since infielder Michael Chavis is the first (and only) Red Sox prospect at #92.

Another reminder that the SoxProspects.com donation drive goes through August 10th. Please consider a donation so that we can continue to provide this great content and keep the site free, just as we have done for the last 15 years.

Photo Credit: Alexander Montero by Kelly O'Connor.

Will Woodward is a Co-Owner and Senior Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPWill.

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7/20 Cup of Coffee: It was a busy night down on the farm, with a no-hitter from the Greenville Drive being the top story. Enmanuel De Jesus (pictured, right)threw the first 7 2/3 innings, and Devon Fisherand Durbin Feltman combined to get the final four outs. Michael Kopech also faced a Boston affiliate for the first time since he was traded for Chris Sale, while William Cuevas, Teddy Stankiewicz and Darwinzon Hernandezall added strong starts. Rusney Castillo returned from his groin injury, and Bobby Dalbec hit his 51st extra-base hit of the year, tying him with Rafael Devers for the most ever by a member of the Salem Red Sox.

It was a pitcher's duel between William Cuevas and Michael Kopech, but the Knights scored one in the eighth and one in the ninth for the walk-off victory. Cuevas struck out eight over seven innings, with a two-run home run in the fifth being his only blemish. He was let down by the bullpen, with Ty Buttrey serving up the tying run in the eighth and then walking the leadoff man in the ninth. Kyle Martin came in and allowed three more walks to force in the winning run.

July 19, 2018 at
8:00 AM

LOWELL, Mass. -- After being banned from signing amateur international free agents in the 2016-2017 signing period, the Red Sox signed several older Latin American arms during the 2017-2018 signing period for nominal bonuses. One of those players was 20-year-old Dominican right-handerAlexander Montero, who received $10,000 last July and showed an interesting two-pitch mix during Spring Training. Three months later, Montero’s stuff has already taken a step forward as he makes his stateside debut with the Lowell Spinners.

Through two starts, Montero has thrown ten innings, allowing only six hits while striking out nine and walking only two. Montero is listed at 6-foot-3. 180 pounds and has some projection remaining in his frame. He starts on the third base side of the rubber with a wide base. He doesn’t utilize a wind-up and comes set at his chest before utilizing a short arm action behind his back, hiding the ball until late. For the most part he comes over the top, but he varied his arm slot at times, with some pitches coming from a more high-three quarters arm slot.

July 18, 2018 at
11:44 PM

As we reach the major league All-Star Break, Chris and Ian update us on changes in the site rankings, including the additions of the top international signee and final draft signings. Ian has seen Lowell and reports on a very interesting Spinners roster. Durbin Feltman is (was?) dealing. Jarren Duran is very fast. Meanwhile, Chris ventured to luxurious Woodbridge to see Salem. Bobby Dalbec is mashing. Bryan Mata is very young (and in the Futures Game, which Chris was also at). We also got to your emails. Ian weighs in on the challenges of scouting just the stat line. And leading off, Chris shared some good news: You should be getting podcast goodness more regularly now. You’re welcome.

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7/19 Cup of Coffee: Outside of the DSL, runs were at a premium on Wednesday night as Red Sox affiliates went 4-2 in stateside games but none of the affiliates scored more than three runs, and two were shut out. Tyler Esplin walked off in the second half of Lowell's doubleheader and did his best to overshadow teammate Eduard Bazardo's (pictured) complete game, nine strikeout game in the morning session. Drew Pomeranz also improved in his latest rehab start with one hit in six innings.

Despite Ivan De Jesus' three hits, the PawSox were shut out. A rehabbing Drew Pomeranz did his part, pitching six one-hit innings. His only mistake was a solo home run, going along with a pair of walks and five punchouts. Josh D. Smith gave up a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, giving four free passes against two strikeouts. Tony Renda also had a multi-hit evening.

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7/18 Cup of Coffee: While former Red Sox prospect Mookie Betts was leading off the All-Star game and onetime Boston draftee Alex Bregman was taking home MVP honors, it was business as usual on the farm. Dedgar Jimenez (pictured) dominated as Portland participated in a pair of pitchers duels, splitting 1-0 games in its doubleheader with Binghamton. The GCL Sox came from behind in the bottom of the ninth, while the PawSox fell in extra innings.

It was a tough loss for Pawtucket, falling in the 11th inning on a night it stranded 13 baserunners. Justin Haley struggled in his start, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings, including a home run to White Sox top prospect Eloy Jimenez. Williams Jerez was outstanding out of the bullpen, striking out four against just one walk in 2 2/3 hitless frames. The left-hander has now punched out 65 in 47 1/3 on the year. Tony Renda was 4 for 5 at the plate and is now 13 for 27 since moving up from Portland last week. Renda has a 10-game hitting streak across two levels, with multiple hits in eight of those contests. Sam Travis doubled and walked as part of a 2-for-4 effort.

July 17, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/17 Cup of Coffee:Aneury Tavarez tapped into some late-game heroics for Pawtucket, Bobby Dalbec stayed red hot with Salem, and Greenville wasted a fine outing from Kutter Crawford while an undrafted right-hander and an international free agent both tallied wins at the lower levels.

A two-out rally in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a two-run single by Aneury Tavarez, helps Pawtucket comeback to beat the Chiefs. In the ninth, Mike Miller was hit by a pitch with two outs. Dan Butler then singled and both Miller and Butler advanced a base on a wild pitch before Tavarez singled up the middle to plate both runners. Tavarez proceeded to steal second and score on a Tony Renda RBI single. Robby Scott struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning to seal the comeback.

Brandon Phillips had an RBI double in his second game with the PawSox while both Mike Olt and Dan Bulter homered.

July 16, 2018 at
11:00 AM

SoxProspects.com executive editor Chris Hatfield was in attendance on Sunday in Washington for the All-Star Futures Game. Bryan Mata (pictured, right), the organization's second-ranked prospect, pitched a scoreless third inning, allowing one hit in the frame. For more information on how Mata did, check out Monday's Cup of Coffee.

Two weeks ago, Bobby Dalbec won the Carolina League Player of the Week award. Last week, he picked up Player of the Week honors for SoxProspects.com. And the right-handed hitter continues to impress, picking up 10 hits in 21 at-bats, while going yard four times this past week. If that wasn't enough, Dalbec added another dinger on Sunday to give him 23 homers on the season so far.

Since his promotion from Lowell, 2018 third-round draft pick Durbin Feltman hasn't skipped a beat during his time with the Drive. He's been nearly perfect, allowing one hit while recording all of his outs (six) via strikeout in two innings of work, both resulting in saves for the right-hander, who may be making a push to shoot through the entire Sox system by September.

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7/16 Cup of Coffee: With the major league club closing out its first half on a high note, the minor league affiliates have been on one of their strongest runs of the season. Bryan Mata (pictured, left), the Carolina League's youngest hurler, aquitted himself well in the Futures Game, while four of the five teams in action Sunday came away with wins. Bobby Dalbec continues to be an unstoppable force this month, and Denyi Reyes was once again untouchable for Greenville. Reyes was supported by a huge effort by Victor Acosta, while Devlin Granberg reached base five times to lead Lowell.

Major League Baseball's All-Star weekend festivities kicked off with the annual Futures Game. The lone Red Sox representative in the contest was right-hander pitcher Bryan Mata, selected by the World Team. The organization's second-ranked prospect got the call in the third inning, allowing one hit in a scoreless frame. He walked one, and struck out Brendan Rodgers (COL), the third overall pick in the 2015 draft. SoxProspects.com Executive Editor Chris Hatfield was in attendance at Nationals Park. He reported that Mata threw his fastball in the 94-95 range and mixed in a curve and changeup, while also getting some video of Mata warming up before coming on.

July 15, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/15 Cup of Coffee: Dominant starting pitching from Pawtucket and Greenville led to victories while 13-hit performances from Portland and Lowell also resulted in wins on the farm. The lone loss came in a shellacking of Salem. William Cuevas (Pawtucket) and Jhonathan Diaz (Greenville) breezed to wins on the hill while Jordan Betts (Portland) and Xavier LeGrant (Lowell) powered their teams to wins. Oh, and Brandon Phillips picked up a hit in his debut with the PawSox.

A brilliant pitching performance by William Cuevas led the way for a dominant PawSox shutout. Cuevas pitched seven innings, allowing two hits while striking out six. The victory was his sixth of the season, as the right-hander allowed a total of three base runners. His near namesake Williams Jerez played the role of copycat, allowing just one hit in two innings of relief, striking out three.

July 14, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/14 Cup of Coffee: Some impressive performances in the lower minors were the highlight of the night down on the farm, with Enmanuel De Jesus's (pictured) complete game and Darwinzon Hernandez's five shutout innings setting the pace. Drew Pomeranz struggled in his start for the PawSox, and Lowell pulled out a victory in extra innings.

Drew Pomeranz struggled through 3 2/3 innings in his third rehab start with the PawSox as they were doubled up by the Chiefs. Pomeranz allowed three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three. He has now allowed nine runs over 9 1/3 innings since coming back on July 2. Josh D. Smith allowed two runs over four innings as he was hit with the loss. With their offense currently depleted by call-ups and injuries, the PawSox are using a bit of a makeshift lineup. Tony Renda and Kyle Wren led the way, with Renda slugging a two-run home run and a double, and Wren going 3 for 4 with a double.

July 13, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/13 Cup of Coffee: It was a good night down on the farm, with several top prospects having notable performances and three of the four stateside teams who completed games coming away with wins. Michael Chavis returned to Portland after a brief one-game sabbatical back to Lowell and blasted a home run in the Sea Dogs win. Tanner Houck was dominant for the first six innings of his start before things slipped away in the seventh. Jarren Duran and Eduard Bazardo (pictured, right) continue their excellent seasons for the Spinners.

The PawSox opened their second-half schedule with a strong effort highlighted by Justin Haley. The righty allowed two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high nine batters. Bobby Poyner surrendered a rare run, only the second time in his last 10 Triple-A outings that he has been scored upon. Ty Buttrey pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 to get credit for the save, his first of the season. After joining the team from Portland to take the roster spot of Boston-bound Tzu-Wei Lin, Tony Renda played a key role for the offense. The veteran infielder got the start at second base and was 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored. Aneury Tavarez provided insurance with a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

July 12, 2018 at
1:00 PM

After winning the Carolina League Player of the Week award last week, Bobby Dalbec(pictured, right) picked up where he left off, launching two home runs and driving in five runs on Tuesday. He already has six home runs in July after hitting five in April, May, and June.

It was a short stay in Lowell for third-round pick Durbin Feltman as he was promoted to Greenville. Feltman struck out seven and did not allow a run in four innings with the Spinners, and in his first game with the Drive on Wednesday he struck out three and picked up the save.

The Red Sox recalled Jalen Beeks in the beginning of the week and optioned William Cuevas to Pawtucket. Beeks struggled in his appearance on Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits over 2 1/3 innings against the Rangers. He was sent down on Wednesday, with Robby Scott coming up in his place.

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7/12 Cup of Coffee: The system had a good day, as each of the six affiliates that played earned wins. Each of the DSL squads split a doubleheader, with Portland and Pawtucket off for its respective all-star games. Kole Cottam(pictured) helped Lowell to a win with three extra-base hits, as he was a single short of the cycle. Matthew Kent and Kyle Hart each had perfect innings in the tied Eastern League All-Star Game.

Jalen Beeks and Ryan Brasier were both named to the International League All-Star team, but Beeks was only sent back down to Pawtucket after pitching in Tuesday's game for Boston, while Brasier remains on the big league roster after an inning, so neither were available. Rusney Castillo was eligible, but did not play.

July 11, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/11 Cup of Self-Serve Coffee:Bobby Dalbec continued his absurd week-long assault on Carolina League pitchers, blasting two homers and driving in five in Salem's victory. With the DSL squads rained out, Lowell and Greenville on scheduled days off, and the International and Eastern Leagues on their All-Star Breaks, the GCL Sox were the only other team in action, picking up the victory behind rehabbing hurlers Zach Schellenger and Austin Glorius along with lefty Rayniel Adames.

It has been a mind-boggling eight game run for Bobby Dalbec, who had a career night on Tuesday. The third baseman was 4 for 4 with two homers, driving in five runs and even stealing a base. It was Dalbec's second four-hit game in five days, and the second two-homer performance of his pro career. The blasts give him 21 homers on the season, and 12 at Haley-Toyota Field, tying a team record set last season by Michael Chavis. Toiling in Dalbec's shadow, Trenton Kemp also delivered a two-homer game, blasting solo shots in the fourth and sixth innings.

Bryan Mata benefited from the power surge, getting credit for the win while allowing four runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out four batters, and his two walks where his lowest total in a start since walking a pair on May 10. Kevin McAvoy went four shutout innings to earn his first professional save. McAvoy allowed only one hit and struck out three without issuing a walk. He also induced eight ground ball outs.

July 10, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/10 Cup of Coffee: With both Pawtucket and Portland on an All-Star break, Salem was the highest-level team in action on Monday. Daniel Gonzalez couldn't quite match the performance of teammate Darwinzon Hernandez from Sunday for Salem. Denyi Reyes was efficient and effective, powering the Drive to a win. But the story of the night was Michael Chavis(pictured), who finally broke through with a home run and a pair of doubles in his seventh game back since returning from a suspension.

Daniel Gonzalez couldn't match Darwinzon Hernandez' performance from a day earlier when Hernandez didn't allow a hit in 5 2/3 innings of work in Salem's win over Potomac on Sunday, as Gonzalez surrendered for runs on seven hits in six innings of work to take his third loss of the season.

Bobby Dalbec extended his hitting streak to seventh games with a single while adding a walk. CJ Chatham continues to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, his third straight contest with multiple hits, raising his average to .322 with Salem.

July 9, 2018 at
12:00 PM

On Friday, 12th-round pick Chase Shugart and 16th-rounder Chris Machamer signed with the Red Sox, hours before July 6's 5 p.m. signing deadline. Shugart signed for slot value at $125,000, while Machamer got $213,000 which was $88,000 above slot. The team ended up signing 26 of its first 28 picks and 28 out of 40.

On Sunday, the Red Sox placed both Brian Johnson and Christian Vazquez on the 10-day disabled list with left hip inflammation and a pinky fracture, respectively.

To fill the spots on the 25-man roster, Boston selected Ryan Brasier (pictured, left) from Pawtucket and recalled William Cuevas from the PawSox.

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7/9 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates won only two of the five games on Sunday's docket, but that win-loss record masked some outstanding individual performances. The highlight was a pair of hitless starts: one for 5 2/3 innings by Darwinzon Hernandez (pictured, left) for Salem, and another five innings for Brian Brown in Lowell. Bobby Dalbec continued his hot streak to support Hernandez, while Zach Sterry reached base five times as Jhonathan Diaz was turning in another quality start for the Drive.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
With projected starter William Cuevas getting the call to the majors early in the day, the task of taking on Yankee prospect Justus Sheffield fell onto a quintet of relievers. Fernando Rodriguez got the first call and turned in yeoman's work, allowing a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings, striking out five. Williams Jerez also fanned five in his 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing two runs. Kyle Martin, Robby Scott, and Ty Buttrey each turned in a scoreless outing, with Scott striking out all three batters he faced. However, Sheffield and the RailRiders bullpen were able to limit the PawSox to six hits as the two teams closed out the season's first half.

July 8, 2018 at
11:13 AM

7/8 Cup of Coffee: A second rehab assignment this month from Drew Pomeranz went a little better than his last, while Rusney Castillo continued to pile up the hits in a win for Pawtucket. Michael Chavis struck out in all four of his at-bats in his debut with Portland, Bobby Dalbec (pictured, left) delivered another homer for Salem, and Tanner Houck impressed on the mound in a victory.-----

Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 2,Drew Pomeranz performed a little better in his second rehab start with the PawSox as he followed up his four-home run clunker that lasted only 2 2/3 innings on July 2 by tossing three innings of one-run ball on Saturday. The left-hander still wasn't too sharp, though, as he walked two and gave up five hits, throwing 37 of his 60 pitches for strikes. Josh D. Smith picked up the win in relief, tossing three innings of his own, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four. Ryan Brasier picked up his 13th save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Rusney Castillo went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run while Sam Travis lofted his six home run of the season with Pawtucket with a solo shot in the fourth inning.

July 7, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/7 Cup of Coffee: There were several good performances on the farm last night, but none were better than Alexander Montero's (pictured) start for Lowell. Bobby Dalbec stayed hot at the plate, while Ty Buttrey, Trey Ball, and Jake Cosart all kept their good runs going. Kyle Hart had a solid outing for the Sea Dogs and Angel Maita continued to swing the bat well in the GCL. -----

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
After his start got rained out on Thursday, Justin Haley got the ball on Friday, tossing three innings while allowing two runs. Josh A. Smith allowed a run for the first time in four appearances, giving up one over four innings. Ty Buttrey allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth. The PawSox managed only four hits, with both Tzu-Wei Lin and Sam Travis walking twice and singling.

July 6, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/6 Cup of Coffee: Thursday treated the organization well, as five of the seven affiliates that got in games came away with wins. Bobby Dalbec (pictured, left) has been an all-or-nothing story this year, and his work yesterday fell firmly into the "all" category. The third baseman racked up four hits, increasing his system lead in home runs and doubles in a Salem slugfest. Josh Ockimey and Jantzen Witte helped power a Sea Dogs rout, while Kutter Crawford was once again on his game for Greenville. Aldo Ramirez turned the pitching performance of the night, turning in five no-hit innings for the DSL Red Sox1, while Carlos Velez was a tough-luck loser for their Red Sox2 counterpart.

Scheduled starter Justin Haley didn't even get a chance to throw a pitch, as the PawSox game at Frontier Field was suspended by rainstorms after the top of the first inning. The game will resume when Pawtucket returns on August 21.

July 5, 2018 at
2:00 PM

In his return to the playing field after completing his 80-game suspension, SoxProspects.com's top-ranked prospect, infielder Michael Chavis (pictured, left), opened up about his failed drug test and maintains he never knowingly took a banned substance in a piece from Boston Globe correspondent Owen Pence. Since his return, Chavis has played in two games for the Lowell Spinners. He went hitless in his season debut on Monday before smacking an RBI double for his first hit of the season on Tuesday.

The Red Sox have signed 27 of their 2018 draft picks, with rumblings that the Sox will sign a 28th soon in 16th round draft pick Chris Machamer, a right-hander out of the University of Kentucky. That report came out on Sunday from CatsPulse.com's Derek Terry.

Monday was the start of the 2018-19 international amateur signing season, and the Sox inked outfielder Eduardo Lopez for a $1.15 million signing bonus to lead this year's class. Lopez was ranked 20th in the class by Baseball America and 23rd by MLB.com. Lopez is one of 22 international signings the Sox made, with outfielders Eduardo Vaughn and Bryan Gonzalez notably signing for reported bonuses of $550,000 and $500,000, respectively. Check the trackers at Baseball America and MLB Pipeline for more.

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Cup of Coffee 7/5: Pinch-hitting dramatics were afoot as Luke Tendler(pictured) and Rusney Castillo each drove in two off the bench to help Portland and Pawtucket to victory on a successful day for the Red Sox system. Denyi Reyes delivered eight innings, allowing only two runs as Greenville was victorious as well. One DSL team delivered a shutout, while the other was held to only three hits.

Rusney Castillo stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth and the bases loaded. He came through with a single to right field to bring the PawSox within one. Tzu-Wei Lin would follow it up with another single to right to give the PawSox the win. Ryan Brasier pitched a perfect ninth to complete the game with two strikeouts. Jalen Beeks had an uneven start, giving up three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, though he did strike out eight Red Wings against zero walks. Mike Miller smacked a two-run home run in the eighth as part of a 2-for-4 night.

July 4, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/4 Cup of Coffee: A pair of left-handers in Single A had impressive starts heading into the holiday. Darwinzon Hernandez (pictured, left) turned in his best outing of the 2018 season, and Jhonathan Diaz continues to be a reliable bulwark in the rotation, leading Salem and Greenville, respectively, to victory. The two DSL squads combined for 29 hits. Pawtucket missed several opportunities in its loss to Rochester, while Portland was shut down by a former Boston College ace.

The PawSox squandered several opportunities, going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position in their one-run loss. Tzu-Wei Lin finally put a run on the board in the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run, his fifth of the season. Aneury Tavarez collected three of Pawtucket's six hits on the night. Starter Chandler Shepherd surrendered two runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out five without walking a batter. The bullpen did excellent work keeping the PawSox within striking distance, with Kyle Martin, Bobby Poyner, and Trevor Kelley combining for 4 2/3 scoreless frames.

July 3, 2018 at
6:00 PM

The month of July will be hot, but it may be a welcomed reprieve from some of the happenings, and cold harsh realities, that hit the Boston Red Sox minor league system in June, and really, this entire season so far.

To this point, the system's top two prospects in Jay Groome (out for the season due to Tommy John Surgery) and Michael Chavis (played in his first game on July 2 following an 80-game suspension), have been anything but hot, yet instead, missing in action. So, too, have been many noteworthy performances on the farm.

Still, it hasn't been that bad for everybody in the Sox system, as Tanner Nishioka(pictured, right) and Denyi Reyes(pictured, below)earned SoxProspects.com's Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, after compiling significant stats in Salem in June, with the former getting a call-up to Greenville on the last day of the month. Nishioka claimed the honors by being near the top in many batting categories throughout the system, earning him the promotion, while Reyes, for the second month in a row after being named Player of the Month in May, was able to continue to limit opponents to next to no earned runs.

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7/3 Cup of Coffee: Drew Pomeranz imploded in Pawtucket, the bat of Josh Ockimey (pictured, right) exploded for two-late inning RBIs in Portland, and Michael Chavis introduced himself to those in Lowell on Monday for his season debut. Although Chavis went hitless, Eduard Bazardo and three other Lowell arms spun a gem and stole the show in a win for the Spinners at LeLacheur Park.

Making a rehab assignment with Pawtucket, Drew Pomeranz got shellacked in 2 2/3 innings. The left-hander gave up four hits, all of them home runs, and five runs in total in a lackluster performance as Pomeranz tries to return from left bicep tendinitis. One of the Twins top prospects in Byron Buxton, who is rehabbing a toe injury, homered to lead off the game as the Red Wings then hit another solo shot in the first, a solo home run in the second, and then their final solo homer in the third to chase Pomeranz.

July 2, 2018 at
4:58 PM

After completing his 80-game suspension, SoxProspects.com's top-ranked prospect, infielder Michael Chavis (pictured, right), will make his season debut on Monday the team announced. While he will begin the year with the Lowell Spinners, it is almost certainly just for him to get re-acclimated as Chavis should be sent to Portland in short order.

There is a lot of action going on between the draft, international signings, and trades. Luckily the SoxProspects.com Podcast is here with their latest episode to keep it all straight for you.

Monday also marks the beginning of the 2018-2019 International Signing Period, where international prospects 16 years old and older can sign with major league organizations. Many of these deals are discussed in advanced and therefore there is always a flurry of activity on the opening day. Ben Badler of Baseball America's has an excellent preview of this for the AL East.

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Surely, you can't be serious! It looks like Chris and Ian picked the right time to record a podcast. The new rankings have landed. The Red Sox have locked in their draft picks in the upright position. International signings are cleared for take-off. Join Chris and Ian as they taxi through the system. Their first stop is the Steve Pearce trade. They go over the likelihood of more trades to add to Boston's budget for the July 2 prospects. Chris highlights the big movers and all the debuts in the new rankings. Ian recaps who he's seen at Pawtucket and Lowell.

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7/2 Cup of Coffee: The system got strong pitching across the board as the calendar flipped to July, but a lack of offensive support led to the affiliates getting only one win in five games. Hildemaro Requena went seven shutout innings with nothing to show for it, while Jake Thompson and Alexander Montero were very solid for Salem and Lowell. Josh A. Smith led a trio of Pawtucket hurlers in four-hitting Scranton, as Sam Travis (pictured) homered to key the only win on the day.

A trio of arms collaborated on a four-hit shutout, salvaging the final game of the series for Pawtucket. Right-hander Josh A. Smith got the start, allowing three hits in five frames, striking out five without issuing a walk. Trevor Kelley made his Triple-A debut in relief, striking out two in two perfect innings. Fernando Rodriguez went two innings for his first save of the year. All of the run scoring came on a two-run homer by Sam Travis, the first round-tripper for the first baseman since May 28. Rusney Castillo chipped in with his 20th double of the season.

July 1, 2018 at
7:00 AM

7/1 Cup of Coffee: Mike Shawaryn (pictured, left) and Mike Ohlman provided magic for both Portland and Pawtucket, respectively, on Saturday, even though the PawSox lost in extras. Bryan Mata and Kutter Crawford both pitched well enough to win, but didn't get the decision, while two 2018 draft picks in Jarren Duran and Kole Cottam, and 2017 draft pick in Cole Brannen, powered the Spinners to a win.

Home runs in consecutive innings from Mike Ohlman looked to be enough for the PawSox, but the RailRiders scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie it at six apiece before walking off with a win in the bottom of the 10th. Ohlman smacked a solo shot to lead off the sixth before hitting a two-run bomb in the seventh to supply Pawtucket with a 6-4 lead. But Kyle Martin surrendered a two-run home run to Rey Navarro with two outs in the bottom half of the ninth before a Francisco Diaz single plated the winning run for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.